Water vehicle



Nov. 20, 1962 1.. E. HAMMOND 3,064,286

WATER VEHICLE Filed Feb. 3, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l w J3 I75.

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Nov. 20, 1962 L. E. HAMMOND 3,064,286

WATER VEHICLE Filed Feb. 3, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTCR.

ilnited states Patent finite 3&54236 Patented Nov. 20, 1962 3,064,236 WATER VEHICLE Lauren E. Hammond, W. Chicago Road, Jonesvilie, Mich. Filed Feb. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 713,011 3 Claims. (El. 9-310) This invention relates to an aquatic device and more specifically to a new Water vehicle.

Though water skiing is a popular sport, a large number of people, who would like to water. ski, do not participate in water skiing inasmuch as the skier is subject to severe physical strain. Since a forward moving force is applied to the skis through the skier, water skiing severely taxes at skiers back and leg muscles, thus prolonged skiing results in physical discomfort to the skier. Furthermore, a munber of potential water skiers are unable to get up on water skis so that they are precluded from participating in water skiing. Devices such as aquaplanes have the forward moving force applied directly to the aquaplane, but an aquaplane does not have the maneuverability of water skis. One of the objects of the instant invention is to provide a water vehicle which possesses the maneuverability of water skis but does not place a severe physical strain on the rider.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water vehicle which provides a seat thereon for the convenience of the rider.

A further object of the herein disclosed invention is to provide a water vehicle which has a built-in life preserver.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a water vehicle which includes a means for directing an initial towing force substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

Other objects and uses of the herein disclosed invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from the accompanying specification and the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water vehicle embodying the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is aside elevation of the water vehicle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the water vehicle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the water vehicle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 55 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a tow rope receiving means taken on line 66 of FIG. '2;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of the invention herein disclosed;

FIG. 8 is a plan elevation of the water vehicle shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a riding member shown in FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. l0is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1010 in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1111 in FIG. 7.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a water vehicle embodying the instant invention is generally indicated by numeral 11. The water vehicle 11 includes a riding member 12 made of a substantially fiat relatively long laminated wood which is impervious to water. The riding member 12 includes an upwardly curved rounded forward or leading edge 13 and a tow rope receiving notch 14 in the forward central portion of leading edge 13; said notch 14 being coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the: riding member 12.

A single unitary substantially triangular stabilizing fin 15 is fixed to the underside of the riding member 12. The fin 15 is positioned with its apex 16 extending toward the forward portion of the riding member and its base *17 is flush with end 18 of the riding member 12.

A supporting and towing means, generally indicated by numeral 19, is positioned on the rear half of the riding member 12.. Said supporting and towing means includes a substantially flat support bracket. 21, made of marine plywood, fixed to riding member 12 by means of a bracket bar 23 which is cemented to riding member 12. The bracket 21 is fixed to bracket 23 by means of bolts 24. An aluminum bracket support tube 26, asshown in FIG. 2, is fixed to the bracket 21 by means of an eyebolt 27, which also acts as a tow rope receiving means.

A seat 28, a portion of the supporting. and towing means is partially shown in cross-section in FIG. 5. The seat 28 includes a seat board 29, a two inch thick piece of closed cell foam rubber cushion 31 and upholstery material 32 fixed at its edges to seat board 29 thereby holding the foam rubber cushion 31 to the seat board 29. Bracket 21 supports one edge of seat 28 and that edge is fixed to bracket 21 through seat bar 33. The seat bar is fixed to bracket 21 by bolts 34, and bolts 35 extending through seat bar 33 and seat board 29 fix the seat to the seat bar.

An aluminum tube handle 36, which provides a tow rope retaining means, is generally U-shaped as may be seen in FIG. 3 and is lockably received in handle notches 37 on opposite ends of bracket 21. Each end 33 of handle 36 is fixed under an opposite corner of seat 28 at a common point with a seat supporting aluminum tube 39, as is shown in FIG..4. The opposite ends of tubes 39 are fixed to riding member "12 at a common point with bracket support tube 26 thereby securely mounting thesupporting and towing means to the upperside of the riding member.

In the operation of the herein disclosed water vehicle, a tow rope 43 has one end attached to a suitable'source of towing force, such as a motor boat, and the other end is threaded through the eye of the eyebolt 27 for slidable engagement therewith and wrapped around the handle 36' two or three times. A rider sits on the seat 28 with his legs outside handle 36 straddling the rope 43. The rider grasps the handle 36 with his hands outside his legs and with one hand holds the ends of the rope 43 wrapped around the handle 36 thereby securing the rope to the handle.

The Water vehicle is started with the rope 43 lying in notch 14 so that the initial towing force applied to the water vehicle 11 is applied along the longitudinal axis of the riding member 12. Thus, any possibility of initial tipping of the vehicle is minimized inasmuch as the rope cooperates with the notch to align the sled with the rope. As the speed of the water vehicle increases and it rises from the water, the rope leaves the notch 14, and the towing force, is applied directly to the eyebolt, tow rope receiving means. The stabilizing fin 15 maintains the sled directed in a forward direction after the tow rope leaves the notch thereby preventing yawling of the water vehicle during its operation.

The rider controls the direction of the water vehicle by shifting his weight from side to side to bank the vehicle in a desired direction. It is obvious that the rider does not expend any great effort to hold the tow rope other than firmly grasping the rope wrapped around the tow rope retaining means, thus, he receives all of the enjoyment of water skiing without the severe strain on his back and legs.

Should the rider fall off the water vehicle, he naturally lets go of the rope wrapped around the handle. The towing force unwraps the rope from the handle and pulls the rope through the eye of the eyebolt. Thus, the water vehicle 11 is released from the tow rope 43 so that the skier has the water vehicle proximate to him. Since the seat 28 has cushion 31 made of closed cell foam rubber, the cushion provides an extra buoyant material which acts as a life preserver for the rider. This advantage of the present invention is especially important should the rider fall off and the boat pulling him be unable to return immediately to pick him up for one reason or another.

When the rider decides to stop, he controls the release of the water vehicle from the tow rope 43 by releasing the tow rope and the pull of the boat unwinds the rope from the handle and pulls the rope through the eye of the eyebolt 27, to free the water vehicle 11 from the tow rope.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 through 11, a Water vehicle embodying the present invention is generally indicated by numeral 50. The water vehicle 50 includes a relatively long substantially flat riding member 52 and a supporting and towing means 54 fixed to the upper portion on the rear half of said riding member, and a stabilizing fin 56 integral with the bottom of the riding member 52.

The riding member 52 includes a relatively long substantially flat body 58 which has integral therewith an upwardly curved rounded leading edge or forward portion 60 and a rounded rear edge 62 as may be seen in FIG. 8. The riding member 52 consists of a generally concave top member 64 and a substantially flat bottom member 66 which may be seen in FIG. 9.

The top member 64 includes an upwardly curved rounded forward or leading edge 68; the rear edge of top member 64 is rounded forming a portion of rear edge 62. The top member 64 includes an uppper footrest portion 72 in the central portion thereof and a bonding edge 74 integral therewith defines the periphery of said top member. A top notch 70 and an edge notch 75 are substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the top member.

The stabilizing fin 56 is integral with the bottom member 66 as may be seen in FIG. 10. The bottom member 66 also contains an upwardly curved forward or leading edge 76 registerable with the upwardly curved leading edge 68, and said upwardly curved leading edge 76 contains a notch 78 in the central portion thereof which registers with notch 75 in the central portion of the bonding edge 74.

The generally concave top member and the substantially flat bottom member are molded of a fiberglass material to a desired shape. The stabilizing fin 56 is molded integral with the flat member 66, simultaneously with the molding of the bottom member. The riding member 52 is assembled with a Styrofoam material 79 filling the concave portion of the top member. The top member is placed in registry with the substantially flat bottom member and the bond edges of the top member are bonded to the main portion of the bottom member forming a watertight seal between the members thereby completing the riding member 52 which is buoyant in water. The

Styrofoam material between the top and bottom members gives support to the top member and especially the footrest portion 72. When the top and bottom members are bonded in registry, the notch 75 is placed in registry with notch 78 so that notches 70, 75, and 78 define a tow rope receiving notch in the leading edge 68 of the riding member. a

The support and towing means 54 includes a hollow substantially vertical generally hourglass shaped supporting column 80. The column 80 is made of a molded plastic material and has a generally airfoil cross-section as may be seen in FIGS. 8 and 11. The column 80 has a substantially flat base 82 which is fiat and mountable on the footrest portion 7 2. A suitable bonding material,

' which is unaffected by water, is used to fix the column to the riding member.

At the top of column 80, the column is enlarged and contains an indentation to provide a seat receiver 84. 7 Opposed edges 86 and 88 of the seat means of bolts 92, and the cross member of the handle is spaced from the seat receiver in a direction toward the leading edge of the riding member 52 as shown in FIG. 8.

A seat generally indicated by numeral 94 is positioned in the seat receiver 84 and supported in an upward direction from the column by seat blocks 96. The seat 94 consists of a generally rectangular plywood seat board 98 with a piece of two inch thick closed cell foam rubber cushion 100 on top of said board 98. The cushion is held on to the board 98 by an upholstery material 102 which has its edges fixed to the bottom of the board 98. A plurality of screws 104 extend through the column 80 and the blocks 96 into seat board 98 thereby fixing the seat to the column 80.

An eyebolt 106 is fixed to the column 80 proximate its narrowest portion as may be seen in FIGS. 7, 10, and 11.

The eyebolt, which provides a tow rope receiving means, extends through one wall of the column and is held there by a nut in the center of the column 80 and directly above the longitudinal axis of the riding member 52.

The operation of the water vehicle 50 is identical to the operation of the above described water vehicle 11. A rider sits on seat 94 with his legs outside of handle 90, a tow rope is passed through the eyebolt 106 and wrapped around the handle two or three times, and the rider holds handle 90 with his hands outside of his legs while he straddles the tow rope. While holding on to the handle 90, he holds on to the rope in wrapped engagement with the handle 90, rope retaining means.

In order to move the water vehicle, the tow rope is connected to a suitable source of pulling force such as, a motor boat. The tow rope is positioned in the rope receiving notch for the initial starting of the water vehicle for the reasons that were described above. The airfoil cross-section of the column 80 described above reduces the drag of the vehicle during initial movement thereby increasing the acceleration and making it easier to get up on the .water.

When the rider wishes to stop or he falls off the vehicle, the rider lets go of the rope, and the towing force unwraps the rope from the rope retaining means and pulls it through the tow rope receiving means freeing the vehicle and leaving it with the rider. Since the cushion is a closed cell foam rubber, it provides a life preserver for the rider for the reasons described above.

Although the supporting and pulling means 54 is shown mounted on a hollow molded fibreglass riding member 52, it is obvious that the supporting and towing means may be placed on a wooden laminated riding means, such as riding member 12, by the same means that supporting and towing means 54 is fixed to the riding member 52.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A water vehicle comprising a surface riding member having an upwardly curved leading edge, a stabilizing fin fixed to the underside of said riding member along the rear portion thereof, an upstanding member mounted on the upper side of said riding member and disposed approximately midway between opposite ends of the said riding member, a seat supported at the upper end of said upstanding member, and a tow rope attachment means comprising an element fixed to said upstanding member at .a'

point disposed beneath said seat and substantially midway between the opposite ends of said riding member for accommodating an end portion of a tow rope with minimum tendency for the Water vehicle to be steered thereby and in position for an operator to control the tow rope and attach or release the same from said attachment means while maintaining a generally upright position on said seat.. a

2. A water vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upstanding member comprises a vertical column of gen- 5 erally hourglass shape presenting a fore and aft airfoil cross section, and wherein there is provided a generally U-shaped handle projecting forwardly from said seat.

3. A water vehicle comprising a surface riding member having an upwardly curved leading edge, a stabilizing fin fixed to the underside of said riding member along the rear portion thereof, an upstanding member mounted on the upper side of said riding member on the rear half thereof in position to locate a tow rope attachment device substantially midway between the ends of the said riding member, a seat supported at the upper end of said upstanding member, and a tow rope attachment means comprising an element fixed to said upstanding member at a point disposed beneath said seat and slightly to the rear of the longitudinal mid-portion of said riding member for accommodating an end portion of a tow rope with minimum tendency for the water vehicle to be steered thereby and in position for an operator to control the tow rope and attach or release the same from said attachment 6 means while maintaining a generally upright position on said seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 821,806 JohnStDn May 29, 1906 1,216,707 Lawson Feb. 20, 1917 1,552,990 Hunt Sept. 8, 1925 2,052,240 Min Apr. 25, 1936 2,685,696 Oscanyan Aug. 10, 1954- 2,735,115 Dees Feb. 21, 1956 2,814,811 Ritter et al Dec. 3, 1957 2,815,518 Kuehn Dec. 10, 1957 2,817,101 Chaifee Dec. 24, 1957 2,865,032 Moody Dec. 23, 1958 2,910,708 Albright Nov. 3, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 517,961 Canada Nov. 1, 1955 

